I think I had a system update recently? since then when I make phone calls, as soon as it starts to dial the screen goes blank. This means I can't hang up, if I am trying to check my voice mail I can't see / operate the touch pad dial buttons, if I have a menu selection - I don't have a keypad onscreen to type any selections?
I can see the ongoing call status at the top of the screen after going through screen off, screen on cycles, but trying to access that part of the system takes me straight back to a blank screen?
I've had the phone for several months, its behaved fine - please, has something gone wrong, is there a setting I need to change?
Regards, Clayton
What you describe is the typical malfunctioning of front sensor. Check if it is covered by the screen protector or try any GPlay program that can check sensors on your phone.
Related
XDA-Dev:
I hope this finds you in high spirits and good health. Just a day ago my phone started acting peculiar regarding the lighting of the touchscreen.
Firmware: 1.6 // Build: DRC83 // Rooted: No
Damage: Slightly scratched hard plastic from dropping 2-3 times. Otherwise, outwardly pristine
Upon purchasing the phone, I immediately noticed that the screen would creak if it was pressed on the bottom right hand side (by the send button). The right side of the screen also protrudes slightly higher than the left when in the open position. I have owned the device for about 7-8 months now and have noticed that on the rear, when in open position, there is a scratch where the sliding mechanism moves. The paint is stripped and the underlying metal is displayed in those areas. And now on to the issue at hand:
When the phone is closed (touchscreen only):
- When pressing MENU, or any key that would normally illuminate the screen, this does not happen. The screen stays dim, yet the lights on the buttons bellow it brighten.
- If I slide out the keyboard while the screen is supposed to be on (meaning the buttons are lit up), nothing happens.
When the phone is open (keyboard presented):
- And the screen is off, if I press MENU, the screen comes right up with no brightness issues.
- At this point, if I close the keyboard, the backlight disables itself. The screen is NOT completely blank. If I reflect the light of the room off of it, I can just barely make out that it is indeed displaying whatever task it was that was open, but if I were in a dark room, there would be no chance of recognising what is being presented.
- Continuing from above, once the screen's backlight is disabled and I reopen the keyboard, it does not turn back on. I must turn off the screen and turn it back on for the backlight to resume normal functioning.
One would think that if the issue lies in a loose wire that once the keyboard is extended that the backlight would regain normal functioning. Because this is not happening and that it is only working under certain circumstances, I cannot accurately ascertain whether this is a software or hardware problem.
Attempted remedies:
- Soft reset (both rebooting the phone by powering off and on and by going into the reset menu)
- Hard reset (by going into the reset menu and hitting ALT+W, etc)
Neither of these attempts succeeded in restoring functionality of the backlight. I've also search high and low through the settings, but see nothing other than 'Brightness' under 'Sound & Display.'
It may be noteworthy that I have the paid application 'Power Manager' installed. Though, perhaps not since this issue was still occurring AFTER the factory reset when no foreign applications were installed.
If you require any additional details, feel free to give a reply with any questions. I'm sincerely hoping I don't have to deal with T-Mobile or HTC to have this repaired. Any tips, ideas or possible solutions would be greatly appreciated!
Regards,
Ian
Update on issue:
On the way home from work, as the battery was on it's last leg (less than 10%), I turned off the screen while the device was in the open position after finishing a text. Upon attempting to re-activate the screen, it would not do so. As always, the side buttons lit up, but the screen was blank no matter what I did. I could hear the vibration from receiving texts and the red 'omg I\'m dying LED' was still flashing, so the device had not died.
Returning home, I gave it a reboot by removing and replacing the battery. I've kept it in the open position since it has been plugged in and am quite afraid of manipulating the slide mechanism any further.
I'll be calling t-mobile to get their opinion on any further troubleshooting momentarily and report back.
Sorry for opening an older thread. do you remember what t-mobile said was the problem? i am having the same issue.
simplewhite said:
Sorry for opening an older thread. do you remember what t-mobile said was the problem? i am having the same issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ribbon wire in the slide mechanism is either broken or pulled out of socket.
Was just wondering if anybody else is experiencing this problem. When i make or receive a phone call my screen goes off and will not under any circumstances turn back on until the call is ended. I was just calling a company that requires me to select number to get to the right department and i couldn't because the screen is off and there is no way to turn it on to get to the number pad and hit the right key... Worst part about it is that the automated answering system does hangup so the only way for me to end the call was to pull the battery. Anybody have any idea what could be causing this? perhaps a faulty proximity sensor?
Incase anybody asks yes i tried hitting the power/wake key on the top and any and all buttons but still the screen remains off durring calls until the other party hangs up and it kicks me back out to the homescreen.
Sounds like a fault light/proximity sensor. My screen turns off as I place it near my ear, and then turns back on when I pull it away, just as it should.
Yea i was thinking the same thing. Looks like i will have to make my way back to the store durring lunch to get a replacement device...
Hi, I have a huge problem. Every time I make a call, preferably my voicemail, it asks me to press a number in the keypad.
Okay, that's fine. But the only problem is the screen blacks out immediately when the call is made and I cannot choose any of the options. I'm still in the call, although it will repeat the options for about a minute and just end the call.
I can't end the call manually or use the keypad. Tried pressing the lock button, the search, the menu, and Back button. Nothing seems to work.
Is there anything I can do about this? Because this is really becoming a hinderance.
Hi the proximity sensor should brighten the display up the moment you take it away from your ear, if it dosent prpbably there is a problem with it and you need to check it out with either the provider or HTC if you can.
normally to end call you click on the notification on top of the phone.
It is kinda annoying there is no physical button to end calls but i guess thats touchscreens for you
Probabily you use one case
that cover the proximty sensor
I don't use any case or screen protiction... maybe I should to replace it...Thanks..
dr.alkaiser said:
I don't use any case or screen protiction... maybe I should to replace it...Thanks..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if so, you should replace it ... sorry mate
dr.alkaiser said:
Hi, I have a huge problem. Every time I make a call, preferably my voicemail, it asks me to press a number in the keypad.
Okay, that's fine. But the only problem is the screen blacks out immediately when the call is made and I cannot choose any of the options. I'm still in the call, although it will repeat the options for about a minute and just end the call.
I can't end the call manually or use the keypad. Tried pressing the lock button, the search, the menu, and Back button. Nothing seems to work.
Is there anything I can do about this? Because this is really becoming a hinderance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem. Hard reset solved it. Also solved a problem I had connecting with intermittent connections to Wifi. I think a bum app may have caused the problems.
Starting to happen again, not like last time though. Now it's intermitent and seem to recover when the other end hangs up. May try to get a replacement phone this time.
From what I've seen around the internet this is an OS issue... And it happens to me intermittently as well, though my lock button brightens the display... It seems to have something to do with the screen timeout and the lock screen enabling itself...
Mine had the same issue.
I would pull it away from my face, nothing.
Laid it down flat, nothing
Occasionally it would flash.
I had to return it, no problems since.
The sensor must have been loose and slid behind the open area of the glass.
If you can still, get a replacement
My replacement is in the mail. I have found that if I shake or tap the phone it will flicker and come back during a call. I think the sensor is faulty.
Hi. my UK note (baseband N7000XXKK5, 2.6.35.7.N7000XXKKA, CF-root, stock ROM) has recently stopped turning the screen back on after a call (or during a call when I take the phone away from my ear to use the dial pad, go on speaker, etc.).
Normally the only way I can get the screen back is to hold the power key in until the phone reboots (though I've randomly managed to get it back sometimes, possibly when the other party hangs up and/or I'm pressing the power or home keys to try and get it back).
I've turned off the proximity sensor in settings meantime, and calls are fine in that state - but I don't want to waste battery and/or risk pressing stuff on screen with my head/cheek so I'm looking for a fix. Anyone else got this problem or suggestions for a solution?
I used the *#0*# test menu and chose "sensor". This gives a value of 0.0 for proximity until I put my hand within a few cm's of the sensor, at which point the screen goes green, the phone vibrates constantly and the reading changes to 1.0. Once in that state it stays that way when I remove my hand and doesn't change until I hit the back key.
Is the proximity sensor test intended to be a one-shot affair, or should it register 0.0 once I remove my hand?
My galaxy note is having a similar issue, however when I run the sensor test from *#0*#, I observed a different behaviour, where the proximity output says "1.0" and constantly vibrates all the time (which would explain the screen went black when a call comes in even if I put it on the table, as the phone constantly detects something)
sounds like yours is likely a hardware fault then. I ended up just leaving the proximity sensor disabled for calls and I don't really miss it. The only other thought I had was that my front cam has a load of dust built up under the display glass and it's adjacent to the sensor. I wonder if a layer of dust could trigger it?
actually I just re-ran the sensor test and it now toggles between 0.0 and 1.0 each time I move my hand over the sensor - so looks like in my case I have an intermittant problem. At least now I know how that test is designed to work. I will run it periodically to see whether anything specific is triggering my sensor to stop working.
OK, the following steps resolved my problem:
1. Remove microSD card and turn on the unit
2. Goto *#0*#, sensor test and verify that the issue is resolved
3. Put back in the microSD card
4. Repeat step to and now everything should be back to normal
Just rebooting the unit does not help (as I tried this before), but the above steps have fixed my problem.
Non rooted, T mobile branded 3 month old note 8. No water damange, no drops etc.
Using chrome one miniute, set the phone down to watch a movie on my tablet, picked up the phone to check messages and boom. Screen is off. The phone works, I can even answer calls because I know where the answer button is on the screen, haptic feedback works, all indicator lights work. The phone screen remains off.
Tried a soft reset (tried hard reset too the best I could being I cant see the screen) and the phone seems to reset based on the vibration and indicator light patters but the screen remains off. It's as if a physical connection between the screen and the brains of the phone has been severed. Literaraly the weirdest thing that has happened to me in a decade of Android phone ownership.
Googled all the black screen issues with these phones and most of them are resolved with just a soft reset... some said that the phone is in it's lowest dimmed state and go to a dark room and i'll see it faintly and then can increase brightness... no luck...
Has anyone experienced this?
I would say it's a warranty job, just tried turning my brightness to zero and you can still see the screen.
I did have a similar problem on an old note that had root and custom rom though but I had somehow set the volume rocker to control brightness and it had lowered itself to minimum in my pocket
KEVIN88GT said:
Non rooted, T mobile branded 3 month old note 8. No water damange, no drops etc.
Using chrome one miniute, set the phone down to watch a movie on my tablet, picked up the phone to check messages and boom. Screen is off. The phone works, I can even answer calls because I know where the answer button is on the screen, haptic feedback works, all indicator lights work. The phone screen remains off.
Tried a soft reset (tried hard reset too the best I could being I cant see the screen) and the phone seems to reset based on the vibration and indicator light patters but the screen remains off. It's as if a physical connection between the screen and the brains of the phone has been severed. Literaraly the weirdest thing that has happened to me in a decade of Android phone ownership.
Googled all the black screen issues with these phones and most of them are resolved with just a soft reset... some said that the phone is in it's lowest dimmed state and go to a dark room and i'll see it faintly and then can increase brightness... no luck...
Has anyone experienced this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try pressing and holding Volume down and power button for 5 to 7 seconds to force power off, then try to boot to download mode Volume Down + Bixby + Power button and see if the download mode screen shows......if not then probably a bad screen.
Sent from my God Mode 8
Tried it......nothing.....warranty job it is.... Bummed to have some refurnished phone in exchange for a Brand new 900 dollar phone just a few months back?
KEVIN88GT said:
Tried it......nothing.....warranty job it is.... Bummed to have some refurnished phone in exchange for a Brand new 900 dollar phone just a few months back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that sucks, i can imagine..... i too hate the idea of refurbished units being swapped for warranty....bs, should be brand new unit!
Sent from my God Mode 8
so I had it replaced under warranty through T mobile. Refurb phone will come in today. One quesion. Should I let the Tmobile techs do the data/settings transfer from old phone to new one or just do everything myself from scratch (which will obviously take longer).
This happened to my phone twice for the past month or so. (both in Nougat and Oreo - Non rooted) Black screen but phone seems to be responding -- I can receive calls and notifications etc -- And force reboot doesn't fix it. I've also tried drainging the phone when it first happened to me but doesn't work. HOWEVER, it gets okay so randomly. Like I just left it for couple of hours and it just worked when I hit the power button.
I did tried bringing the device to Samsung but what they did is to just manually upgrade/reset the software in their end which I could have done in my part but I just let them do it. They told me to come back if it happens again which is kinda BS.
I can conveniently say this is a Hardware issue. I will wait for it to happen again on my phone and request for a replacement. Phone is 4 months old when it first happened.
I have the same issue with blank screen but phone is working.
It started couple of weeks after i dropped my phone on the ground. There is black dot on my screen and broken glass but phone was working ok and was still pretty usable. But then it started:
Display works fine but when i switch display of, lock the phone or display switched because of its timer it didn come switch on... But phone works, i can use it with blank (black) screen.
I had to do force restart so the display will turn on with samsung logo and booting screen, and keep on till another switch of.
I was trying every setting (but no hard reset) and then i found a little hack:
When you turn on the "Always On Display" (AOD) function you can let the screen switch off or do it manually, wait for 1-2 sec and always on display will come up to the screen. Then when you press home button or lock button screen will swtich on normally. YOu can type pin and use phone witch screen working. But when you try to unlock from "AOD" with your finger or your eyes it unlock but with screen black.
So i was using it like this. everytime you need to wait second untill AOD comes up, but it was working fine.
Problem nu 2 is that now it stop working, AOD is working but when i want to switch screen on from AOD it shows black screen and phone is working on blind.
So everytime after my screen goes black or to AOD i have to unlock the phone blindly and "Force restart" it and have to keep waiting until boot, and then have to never let phone to screen of.
Its not usuable.
¨
Now what do you think? Is it hardware problem or software problem? Because screen is working but randomly. The black dot of dead pixels on the screen is getting slightly bigger in time (about 1 year) but its like 1.5cm round. Maybe this cause the problem? And why hack with AOD was working for half a year and then stoped working? There wasnt any updates right before, but i tried to install some apps (non display related) so ill try to uninstall them.
Hawe you got any idea if i can repair it on my own even if i loose the waterproofability?
Or can it be replaced for free if i have a warranty? (I dont have insurance)
Thanks for your tips guys.
Reprocrastinator said:
I have the same issue with blank screen but phone is working.
It started couple of weeks after i dropped my phone on the ground. There is black dot on my screen and broken glass but phone was working ok and was still pretty usable. But then it started:
Display works fine but when i switch display of, lock the phone or display switched because of its timer it didn come switch on... But phone works, i can use it with blank (black) screen.
I had to do force restart so the display will turn on with samsung logo and booting screen, and keep on till another switch of.
I was trying every setting (but no hard reset) and then i found a little hack:
When you turn on the "Always On Display" (AOD) function you can let the screen switch off or do it manually, wait for 1-2 sec and always on display will come up to the screen. Then when you press home button or lock button screen will swtich on normally. YOu can type pin and use phone witch screen working. But when you try to unlock from "AOD" with your finger or your eyes it unlock but with screen black.
So i was using it like this. everytime you need to wait second untill AOD comes up, but it was working fine.
Problem nu 2 is that now it stop working, AOD is working but when i want to switch screen on from AOD it shows black screen and phone is working on blind.
So everytime after my screen goes black or to AOD i have to unlock the phone blindly and "Force restart" it and have to keep waiting until boot, and then have to never let phone to screen of.
Its not usuable.
¨
Now what do you think? Is it hardware problem or software problem? Because screen is working but randomly. The black dot of dead pixels on the screen is getting slightly bigger in time (about 1 year) but its like 1.5cm round. Maybe this cause the problem? And why hack with AOD was working for half a year and then stoped working? There wasnt any updates right before, but i tried to install some apps (non display related) so ill try to uninstall them.
Hawe you got any idea if i can repair it on my own even if i loose the waterproofability?
Or can it be replaced for free if i have a warranty? (I dont have insurance)
Thanks for your tips guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're under warranty it will likely be a free repair, unless they find other damage. Like moisture damage.
As far as fixing it yourself, it's just about as cheap to have Samsung do it than it is to buy the parts yourself. It's $229 for Samsung to do it, and you'll maintain the water resistance rating.
same has happened to me
KEVIN88GT said:
Non rooted, T mobile branded 3 month old note 8. No water damange, no drops etc.
Using chrome one miniute, set the phone down to watch a movie on my tablet, picked up the phone to check messages and boom. Screen is off. The phone works, I can even answer calls because I know where the answer button is on the screen, haptic feedback works, all indicator lights work. The phone screen remains off.
Tried a soft reset (tried hard reset too the best I could being I cant see the screen) and the phone seems to reset based on the vibration and indicator light patters but the screen remains off. It's as if a physical connection between the screen and the brains of the phone has been severed. Literaraly the weirdest thing that has happened to me in a decade of Android phone ownership.
Googled all the black screen issues with these phones and most of them are resolved with just a soft reset... some said that the phone is in it's lowest dimmed state and go to a dark room and i'll see it faintly and then can increase brightness... no luck...
Has anyone experienced this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has just happened to my note 8 too. I was about to update it and had started it. set my phone down and picked it up and phone screen is black but can hear the haptic feedback.
I can only see the lock screen and the notifications. Everytime I try to unlock my phone I only get to see a glimpse of the notescreen and then the screen turns black. Even when I try to go to camera through the lock screen the screen goes black too. When I charge my phone it heats up so I haven't really charged it as well. Has this also happened to anyone? It seems as if the phone's sensitivity still works in all places but when I unlock it the screen just goes black.
I also have problem of freezings and always rebooting. Tried soft and hard resets/factory reset. Still same problem. This phone has hardware issue. Do not buy.
I realize this thread is quite old but I have this exact same issue now. I have managed to discover some other information by playing around with various settings which are noted below. To begin with, I was able to used the AOD hack posted above for a while but it no longer works. The only way I can get my screen to come back is with a soft reset - but as soon as the screen times out or i turn it off, it goes black, with or without AOD enable. All the on screen buttons still work as well as the haptic feedback - I just can't see anything.
Now on to what I have found:
One thing I have found is if I turn off adaptive screen brightness and crank the brightness slider to the right, when it goes black I can faintly see some of the buttons - enough that I can turn the phone off or restart it from the power menu (If I switch the default setting to night that also helps to see the buttons a bit better). Also, if I enable night mode I can also see the brightness slider faintly but when I slide it left, it just makes the screen completely black and when I slide it right, it only returns it to the very faint brightness level.
So at this point I am stuck. To summarize the issue:
1. When the screen either times out or turns off, it is still "alive" but goes black. It will not return to normal brightness.
2. Turning off adaptive brightness and cranking brightness slider to right allows you to see faint buttons after screen times out but won't return to normal brightness.
3. Enabling night mode helps to see the faint buttons, in particular the brightness slider a bit better. However the screen still cannot return to normal brightness.
4. The only way to get the screen back to full brightness (albeit temporarily until the next timeout) is to turn off the phone or reset from the power menu; or soft reset holding volume down + power simultaneously.
Hopefully someone else has figured out a way to recover this. I am on Android 9 with Samsung UI 1.0
Phone is completely stock, never rooted and completely out of warranty.